brownout

Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

n. A reduction or cutback in electric power, especially as a result of a shortage, a mechanical failure, or overuse by consumers.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

n. A period of low alternating current line voltage

n. Temporary dimming of vision, usually with a brown hue and accompanied by loss of peripheral vision or tunnel vision.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English

n. darkness resulting from the extinction of lights (as in a city invisible to enemy aircraft).

n. a partial reduction in the amount of electric power available to customers in a region, such as by reduction of voltage or selective cutoff of certain customers; -- it occurs for example in summer when the demand for electricity for air-conditioning exceeds the supply, or when power to certain customers is cut off by a severe storm. It is contrasted with blackout, which is the total loss of electrical power in a region.

n. darkness resulting from the extinction of lights (as in a city invisible to enemy aircraft)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

brown + (black)out.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

brown +‎ out

Examples

Earlier on the day of the crash, the Sikorsky attempted to land in another spot, but dust churned up by its rotors caused a "brownout" - a condition in which visibility is limited by dust or sand - and forced the helicopter to circle around before attempting another landing.

For a City claiming to be so broke we have to "brownout" fire houses, lay off workers, and postpone police recruit classes, the City acts like it has a ton of money to throw away in one bad deal after another.

When you can't control City spending, won't stop corporate tax giveaways, and refuse to close tax loopholes, instead opting to "brownout" fire houses, it is only a matter of time before somebody's home or businesss burns down or somebody gets killed.